GLF Africa 2024: Agenda
When arriving at the venue, please pick up your registration materials and check in to attend the event. Please bring your registration confirmation letter/ticket with you (printed or on your mobile device) along with your passport or photo ID to show the registration staff at the desk.
Registration will be open until 17:00
Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, morning enthusiast or grumpy-till-your-coffee, kickstart your day with creativity, dreams, hopes and connections to last a lifetime. This hour-long meetup is your chance to network with fellow young leaders, practitioners and scientists, who will join ideas, thoughts and experiences to build a mural of solidarity.
Not sure how to network? Fear not – this meeting will be facilitated, and everyone will have the opportunity to connect with each other.
The session is by invitation only. We have a few spots, so if you’d like to join, please write to Eirini at e.sakellari@cifor-icraf.prg by 10 September answering the following questions: What drives you to be involved in environmental action? Is it a sense of duty, love for nature, or something else? What’s your work and background? (150 words).
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Adrian Leitoro
GLFx Africa Hub Officer, GLF
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Ana Yi Soto
GLFx Coordinator, Global Landscapes Forum
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Hyginus Laari
Community and Action Communications Officer, GLF
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Eirini Sakellari
Youth Program Coordinator, GLF
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Nancy Barisoa
Youth in Landscape Initiative Intern for Africa, GLF
Join us on a journey through East and Central Africa, where GLFx chapters and Restoration Stewards are leading transformative efforts. From the Indian Ocean coast to the Virunga Mountains, local initiatives are revitalizing landscapes across the region. In Rwanda, restoration work is bringing new life to arid regions, while in Cameroon, sustainable practices are creating lasting environmental benefits. These stories highlight the immense potential of collective action to build a sustainable future across Africa.
Africa has the potential to pave the way for the global climate, biodiversity and land degradation neutrality goals. Yet the continent continues to face the devastating impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, resource exploitation and land degradation, despite contributing the least to these global crises.
This plenary will convene leading African and global thought-leaders to build a common understanding of the interlinkages between global climate, biodiversity and land challenges, and why local landscape-level solutions coming from and within Africa are critical to the success of global development and environmental goals. While recognizing the crucial role and needs of people in these solutions, the session will address the disjunct between top-down global targets and local action.
The plenary will also unpack key pathways, opportunities and necessary conditions to accelerate global impact through landscape-level solutions in Africa which account for nearly half of the global restoration commitments and pledges through mechanisms such as the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative and the Land Degradation Neutrality targets.
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Ndung’u Mbithi
Singer/songwriter & Multi-instrumentalist
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Jane Naini Meriwas
Executive Director, Samburu Women Trust
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Simangele Msweli
The Steering Committee, The Global Youth Biodiversity Network
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Taiye Ojo
Eco-activist, writer, and researcher
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Youba Sokona
IPCC-Vice Chair and Special Advisor for Sustainable Development , IPCC and South Centre
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Elizabeth Mrema
Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
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Mary Njuguna
Principal Specialist, Capital Markets, FSD Africa
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Solange Bandiaky-Badji
Coordinator & President, Rights and Resources Initiative / Group
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Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
President & CEO, ONE Campaign
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Éliane Ubalijoro
Chief Executive Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Arnold Kipchumba
Director, Environment and Climate Action, MaMa Doing good
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Felicity Asiibi Akwa
Writer, Activist, Researcher & Poet
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Peter Minang
Director for Africa & Global Coordinator , CIFOR-ICRAF
A new framework to support countries in transforming agricultural systems by scaling up sustainable production, restoring ecosystems and alleviating pressure on forests to improve food value chains will soon be put to the test.
The Participatory Informed Landscape Approach, known as PILA, uses an integrated landscape management approach to accelerate the transformation of value chains at the landscape level. PILA, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as part of the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program, is now being piloted in India, Kenya, Nicaragua, Nigeria and Vietnam. This session will bring together experts and landscape actors implementing PILA to discuss the role of integrated landscape management, how decisions across the value chain are made and the role of smallholder farmers.
Related Knowledge Products:
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Elijah Mboko
National Technical Specialist , Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO Kenya)
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Laura Guarnieri
FOLUR Coordination, Integration and Capacity Development Specialist, FAO
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Betty Kibaara
Director in the Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Regional Office
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Anne Fidelis Itubo
Section Head Participatory Forest Management, Kenya Forest Service
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Robert Nasi
Chief Operating Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF Director General, CIFOR, CIFOR-ICRAF, CIFOR
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Nifesimi Ogunkua
Climate Change and GEF Technical Specialist, FAO
To tackle the critical need to reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, the United Nations has declared the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), with FAO and UNEP spearheading its implementation.
FAO is leading work on best practices and monitoring and has developed several innovative tools and products in collaboration with partners. In addition, since the declaration of the Decade, the focus has been on encouraging countries to move from commitments to effective action on the ground. To that end, the Decade has set up regular calls for nominations of World Restoration Flagships, which are considered the best or most promising examples of effective ecosystem restoration.
In Africa, three Flagships have been recognized, covering farmlands, savannas and grasslands, and forest, including the African Farmers Transforming Food Systems Flagship, the Great Green Wall Flagship and the Regreening Africa Flagship. This session will showcase the publications and harmonized monitoring tools developed to help achieve the mission of the Decade. It will also provide an overview of the three World Restoration Flagships from Africa, highlighting their good practices, success factors and lessons learned to serve as inspiration for the African restoration community to accelerate and upscale effective restoration efforts.
Related Knowledge Products:
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Tiina Vähänen
Deputy Director, Forestry Division, FAO
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Enoch Makobi
Country Director Uganda, Trees for the Future
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Éliane Ubalijoro
Chief Executive Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Erick Ombija
Founder and CEO, Ecosystem Restoration Alliance of Kenya (KERA)
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Mieke Bourne
Engagement with Restoration Evidence and Regreening Africa lead, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Damas Poda
Forest Expert, FAO, Burkina Faso
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Natalia Alekseeva
Coordinator, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UNEP
Despite the limited climate and development funding directly channeled to local organizations, communities in the Global South are restoring their territories as a living legacy for their people’s present and future. Rooted in their landscapes, local organizations leverage ancestral wisdom, cooperation and available resources to make positive change happen.
Beyond tackling immediate environmental issues, community-led restoration models have proven to seed lasting change and repair long-neglected social injustices. How are grassroots initiatives leading holistic action towards restoration and development targets at regional and global levels? What can climate funds and development aid agencies learn from them to match community efforts and achieve long-term impact?
Featuring GLFx chapters and Restoration Stewards, this session will delve into what local organizations need to achieve lasting impact – and how funds should be allocated and targets defined to support grassroots restoration initiatives.
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Risper Wachuka Kiama
Climate Journalist and a Storyteller
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Khadija Amahal
Head of Partnerships, Pikala Bikes Association
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Aruna Bangura
Founder, Bangs Circular and Nature for Mangroves
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Levis Sirikwa
Founder, Ceriops Research Environmental Organization and GLFx Mombasa coordinator
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Kamanzi Claudine
Founder, Forest for Life Project and Forest Restoration Steward 2024
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Uwem Hezekiah
Media Coordinator, Women in Nature Conservation (WINCO), Nigeria
Join us for an exclusive screening of Ya La Terre (2023), a poignant short documentary by Gabonese director Nadine Otsobogo. The film tells the story of Brice, a young Gabonese farmer practicing peri-urban agriculture in Libreville, highlighting his deep connection to the land. Following the screening, Otsobogo will engage in a thoughtful discussion, sharing her journey as a filmmaker, the founding of the Masuku Environment Festival in Gabon and the creative process behind Ya La Terre. This session offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of storytelling and environmental consciousness in African cinema.
Nadine Otsobogo is a Gabonese filmmaker with several productions to her name, including Dialemi, which won the Bronze Stallion of Yennenga at FESPACO 2013. Dialemi was also recognized by the César Academy as one of the 35 best short films of 2015. Nadine founded the Masuku Film Festival, which brings together filmmakers from around the world to focus on themes of nature and the environment.
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Nadine Otsobogo
Film Director & Make Up Artist
Come and take a tour of CIFOR-ICRAF Soil Lab accompanied by an expert. The tour starts at the GLF Info Desk, located between the Conference Hall and Media.
Registration has now been closed.
Join local practitioners from the GLFx chapter network and Restoration Stewards program in learning easy techniques and methods for restoration.
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Carine Akure
Programs Director, Dufatanye Organization & GLFx Nyanza
The Rainforest Alliance is pioneering integrated landscape management (ILM) approaches across five thriving landscapes globally as part of the 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People initiative.
One of the biggest challenges in implementing ILM is weak governance, inadequate finance and siloed approaches towards addressing the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, which are driving rural poverty and human rights abuses. We seek to strengthen our alliance to drive impact at scale in line with our strategy.
This interactive session will provide delegates with an opportunity to learn and interact with seasoned experts on integrated landscape management approaches with examples from Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will also provide a platform to share best practices and experiences on landscape governance, financing models, innovative tools to measure landscape progress and maturity, and partnerships to support smallholders transitioning to regenerative agriculture and sustainable commodities.
Related Knowledge Products:
- Climate solutions: rooted in nature, driven by communities
- The Rainforest Alliance’s work in East Africa
- Rainforest Alliance Mission: People and Nature Thriving Together
- Mount Kenya sustainable landscape and livelihood program
- Video: Uganda Education Children Project
- Video: Cobalam Project
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Marion Nduta Ng'ang'a
Country Director, Kenya & Tanzania, Rainforest Alliance
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Alex Nene
Senior Associate Advocacy East & Southern Africa, Rainforest Alliance
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Beldina Bella Gwada
Communication Manager, East & Southern Africa, Rainforest Alliance
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Edgar Kadenge
Lead, Thriving Landscapes, Mount Kenya, Rainforest Alliance
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Catherine Ng’ang’a
Head of Projects Development and Sustainability Manager, Coffee Management Services Ltd (CMS) and member Mt. Kenya Landscape Management Board (ILM)
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Abeena Dufie Woode
Programme Manager, EU LEAN, LLF Ghana
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Imam A. El Marzuq
Global Lead Thriving Landscapes, Rainforest Alliance
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Herbert Hatanga
Partner, East Africa, Clarmondial AG
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Julius Nganga
Senior Director for East and Southern Africa, Rainforest Alliance
Tree commodities have been Africa’s fastest-growing land use for the last 30 years, impacting the livelihoods of over 200 million people directly and over 500 million indirectly, and contributing 15-19% of the continent’s GDP. They also contribute to poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and improved food and nutrition. However, the development of tree commodities in Africa has been associated with deforestation and the loss of natural forests and low value addition, with the continent capturing less than 10% of the global value chain.
This has been exacerbated by price fluctuations in the global market, poor governance and low returns to farmers. Two of Africa’s main commodities are cashew and wood. While 59% of global cashew nuts are produced in Africa, 98% are exported as unshelled and raw cashew. On the other hand, Africa harbors valuable forest resources but imports around USD 4 billion worth of timber products annually. The continent imports three-quarters of the roughly 100 million m³/year of wood it consumes each year, Moreover, three-quarters of its own wood production is derived from natural forests.
This session brings together experts in the cashew and wood sectors to discuss prospects for the two commodities. It will then open up the discussion to include a continental look at financial flows, a multi-stakeholder approach to tree commodities, and policy and institutional frameworks guiding tree commodities in Africa, and then pave the way for a Q&A with the audience.
Related Knowledge Products:
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Marie-Louise Avana-Tientcheu
Senior Programme Officer, African Forest Forum (AFF)
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Francis Muniu
Senior Research Scientist and Cashew Breeder , Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organizations (KARLO)
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Kennedy Muthee
Research Associate, Africa Directorate, Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
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Jane Mutune
Postdoctoral Fellow and Researcher, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Priscilla Wainaina
Postdoctoral Researcher, World Agroforestry Center
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Peter Minang
Director for Africa & Global Coordinator , CIFOR-ICRAF
This session is by RSVP only and seats are limited. If you are interested in joining, please complete this form by 15 September. If you have any questions or doubts, please write to Anna at mailto:a.denardin@globallandscapesforum.org.
More than 30 years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, trust in the impact of environmental policies can only be kept alive if we can finally translate promises into tangible results by breaking down silos.
The three Rio Conventions – Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification – should be working together to create real change, but reports show that none of these international environmental agreements are delivering on their promises.
While there have been successes that can be celebrated, the big picture shows that implementation is struggling and the results are far from enough.
So, how can we hold decision-makers accountable and ensure that the commitments made under the various conventions translate into meaningful action? What powers do we currently have, or what powers must we build, to influence the decision making and implementation of these Conventions? What are the conditions needed to ensure the implementation of policies that support people and the planet? What are the barriers that hinder them? These are some of the questions that we will be bringing people together to explore in this digital interactive workshop.
More than 30 years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, trust in the impact of environmental policies can only be kept alive if we can finally translate promises into tangible results by breaking down silos. The three Rio Conventions – Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification – should be working together to create real change, but reports show that none of these international environmental agreements are delivering on their promises.
While there have been successes that can be celebrated, the big picture shows that implementation is struggling and the results are far from enough.
So, how can we hold decision-makers accountable and ensure that the commitments made under the various conventions translate into meaningful action? What powers do we currently have, or what powers must we build, to influence the decision making and implementation of these Conventions?
What are the conditions needed to ensure the implementation of policies that support people and the planet? What are the barriers that hinder them? These are some of the questions that we will be bringing people together to explore in this digital interactive workshop.
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Glindys Virginia Luciano
International and Strategic Relations, Project Manager, European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food
Join local practitioners from the GLFx chapter network and Restoration Stewards program in learning easy techniques and methods for restoration.
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Uwem Hezekiah
Media Coordinator, Women in Nature Conservation (WINCO), Nigeria
A local buffet-style lunch with a variety of small dishes will be provided.
Come and join Kenyan artist Shadrack Nduati throughout the afternoon at the Exhibition Area for a hands-on time of collective mural painting.
GLF Africa offers a unique opportunity to meet and connect with people from all over the world working towards a sustainable future. During this networking session, you will be randomly matched with other participants and have the chance to chat for five minutes. After that, the platform will automatically assign you another participant so you can start another interesting conversation.
Always make sure to briefly introduce yourself and start by explaining why you’re interested in the conference themes and how they relate to your work.
Come and take a tour of CIFOR-ICRAF Dendrochronology Lab accompanied by an expert. Start place of the tour is at the GLF Info Desk, located between the Conference Hall and Media.
There is limited space for the tour, therefore we ask you to register using this form.
Since the late 2000s, billions of dollars have been invested in restoration efforts across Africa. Initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the AFR100 Initiative alone have mobilized over $10 billion in funding from African countries, international donors and various financial institutions. These restoration projects, which focus on rehabilitating deforested and degraded lands, are carried out in collaboration with local communities that rely on these lands for the rainfed agriculture that sustains their livelihoods. These communities are among the most vulnerable to environmental crises, caught in a cycle of poverty, land degradation and climate change impacts.
While there have been notable successes, investments in restoration could achieve greater impact if guided by a coordinated national strategy that integrates both environmental and social welfare objectives. Across Africa, social welfare programs exist in almost every country, although their scope, coverage and effectiveness vary significantly between countries. These programs provide financial assistance to the same demographic group targeted by restoration projects, focusing specifically on the elderly, children, disabled individuals and low-income households.
This session aims to bring together key rural development experts and local stakeholders to explore opportunities to align restoration programs with social protection objectives, thereby supporting governments in building household resilience, improving social protections and restoring landscapes.
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Godfrey Rogers Natwaluma
National Coordinator , Trees on Farm for Biodiversity (TonF) Project, CIFOR-ICRAF, Uganda Country Office
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Eric Francis Acanakwo
Country Representative, CIFOR-ICRAF, Uganda
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Monique Akullo
National Coordinator, Biodiversity Finance Initiative, UNDP
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Agnes Nafuma
Smallholder Farmer and Treasurer, Bunabudde Organic Cooperative Society
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Egide Karuranga
Business Strategy Analyst and Independent Consultant
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Anja Gassner
Europe Director, Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Numerous strategies exist for scaling up food production and transforming food systems in Africa, including commercial commodity crops, fertilizer and high-quality seeds input intensification, and integration of advanced technologies. AI and digital tools in particular are rapidly revolutionizing food systems and landscapes within Africa and beyond.
But what does an AI-driven future mean for Africa’s food systems, where smallholder farmers contribute 80% of the continent’s food supply? How can AI and machine learning be harnessed to drive a green leap forward across Africa’s food systems and landscapes?
In this plenary, we will explore two pivotal questions through dynamic debates and discussions. The first will focus on the choice between input-intensive agriculture and agroecology, while the second will examine the potential of AI for building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.
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Catherine Nakalembe
Associate Research Professor, Africa Program Director, University of Maryland, NASA Harvest
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Jeff Kangacha
Agriculturalist, social entrepreneur and technology optimist
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Monica Yator
Founder, Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative
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Joshua Laizer
Co-founder, Tanzania Conservation and Community Empowerment Initiative (TACCEI) & GLFx Maasai Steppe
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Charlette N'Guessan
Data Solutions and Ecosystem, AMINI
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Alex Awiti
Principal Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Pauline Chivenge
Senior Scientist in Cropping Systems Agronomy/Climate Change, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
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Steve Misati
Marine Conservationist & Founder
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Salina Abraham
Chief of Staff to CEO, CIFOR-ICRAF
More than 30 years after the Earth Summit in Rio, hope for strong environmental policies can only be kept alive if we transform promises into tangible results.
The idea of breaking silos is not a novel one—climate, biodiversity and land are all interconnected in the real world—but what is needed to bring all the relevant policy commitments to the same table, especially in an era of rising conflict? How can doing so help us hold decision-makers accountable and ensure that the commitments made under the various conventions translate into meaningful action?
This in-person, interactive workshop brings together young and seasoned experts to explore how the three Rio Conventions—Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Desertification—can work together to create real change.
This session is RSVP only.
If you are interested in joining, please complete the form here before 10 September 2024. If you have any questions or doubts please write to Eirini, at mailto:e.sakellari@cifor-icraf.org.
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Laura Mukhwana
Stakeholder Engagement with Evidence Associate , CIFOR-ICRAF
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Nancy Barisoa
Youth in Landscape Initiative Intern for Africa, GLF
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Brian Kithinji
Executive Director, Policy Action Initiative
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Kevin Lunzalu
Co-founder, Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network
Join us on a journey across Africa and witness how GLFx chapters and Restoration Stewards are spearheading landscape restoration. From wetlands in Nigeria to forests in Sierra Leone and coastal mangrove ecosystems in Kenya, local communities are transforming degraded environments and protecting the millions of livelihoods they provide. Discover the diverse and dynamic projects to restore and protect landscapes across Africa.
Come and take a tour of CIFOR-ICRAF Genebank, Genetics and Genomics Lab accompanied by an expert.Start place of the tour is at the GLF Info Desk, located between the Conference Hall and Media.
Registration has now been closed.
Achieving Africa’s restoration targets will require effective tree seed and seedling delivery systems to support tree planting, but current systems are suboptimal. This issue has gained prominence on the restoration agenda, with substantial investments being made to address it. The Right Tree in the Right Place – Seed initiative, which aims to increase the supply of diverse, high-quality seedlings of native tree species, is building a partnership platform to enable Africa-wide stakeholders to design practical interventions.
If you are an investor, landscape restoration planner, policymaker or organization involved in tree planting, consider joining this session to help guide the platform’s development.
Related Knowledge Products:
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Ousseynou Ndoye
Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa, AFR100
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Kirsty Shaw
Head of Ecological Restoration and Tree Conservation, Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
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Wubalem Tadesse
Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Alice Muchugi
Team Leader, Trees Genetic Resources and Biodiversity, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Ramni Jamnadass
Principal Scientist and Leader, CIFOR-ICRAF
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John Nyaga
Senior Consultant, Climate Department, Unique Land Use
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Bernard Kamondo
Manager, Kenya Forestry Seed Centre, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
Millions of hectares of diverse landscapes will be needed worldwide to achieve global climate, environmental, and development goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Rio Conventions. In this spirit, 34 countries have pledged almost 130 million hectares for restoration under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100).
The session will dive into the complex and multilayered fields of governance and action behind the impressive numbers of hectares to be restored. It will cover people as rights holders, their land and livelihoods, strengthening rural resilience, leveraging economic opportunities, and creating prospects for local communities, women and young people while restoring ecosystems and their services and functions at the same time.
Related Knowledge Products:
- Lessons on land tenure and forest landscape restoration (FLR): A focus on sub-Saharan Africa
- Impacts of land tenure and its governance on the success of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)
- The AFR100 Programme – Funding and technical assistance
- The AFR100 Programme – Funding
- Forests4Future: Giving Forests a Future
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Piranto Peter Ole Mosiany
Founder and CEO, Narropil Honey Enterprises Ltd, Kenya
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Eva Maria Anyango Okoth
Acting Regional Coordinator Africa, The International Land Coalition
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Maria Wichmann
Policy officer for food security in international organisations and land rights, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
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Tiina Vähänen
Deputy Director, Forestry Division, FAO
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Philip Kisoyan
Programme Manager for Environment of Natural Resource Management, GEF/FFF and AFR100 focal point, FAO, Kenya
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George Tarus
Acting Secretary for Forest Conservation, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Kenya
It’s finally time to announce the winners of our highly anticipated African Youth Storytelling Contest. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of imagination as we celebrate the power of storytelling and honor the talented young Africans who have captured our hearts and minds.
In this session, we will unveil the three winners of the contest, whose stories have left an indelible mark on our digital audience. Discover captivating, emotive and creative narratives that will transport you to another realm.
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Jackline Kimathi
Digital Communications Assistant, Global Landscapes Forum
Come and take a tour of CIFOR-ICRAF Spatial Unit Lab accompanied by an expert. The tour starts at the GLF Info Desk, located between the Conference Hall and Media.
Registration has now been closed.
Join local practitioners from the GLFx chapter network and Restoration Stewards program in learning easy techniques and methods for restoration.
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Shadrack Nduati
Fine Artist, Composer & Actor
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Monica Yator
Founder, Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative
HerVoice is a film set in Madagascar that explores the experiences of women in conflict zones. Funded by The Maypole Fund, which supports feminist activism against militarism, and produced by the EcoShe Project, the film delves into the intersection of gender, conflict and sustainability. Through powerful storytelling, it highlights the resilience and agency of women affected by war, emphasizing their unique responses to these challenges. The film seeks to amplify the voices of marginalized women, ensuring their perspectives are included in global discussions on peace and sustainability.
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Nancy Barisoa
Youth in Landscape Initiative Intern for Africa, GLF
Join local practitioners from the GLFx chapter network and Restoration Stewards program in learning easy techniques and methods for restoration.
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Levis Sirikwa
Founder, Ceriops Research Environmental Organization and GLFx Mombasa coordinator
Explore the crucial role of financing in scaling up nature-based solutions in Africa. This session will highlight challenges and opportunities in securing investment for sustainable projects. Hear from finance experts on innovative models and from project leaders on navigating funding for landscapes, and engage in discussions about attracting investment, bridging financing gaps and evaluating project impact. Whether you’re a financier or project developer, this is an opportunity for you to gain crucial insights into how we can collectively advance nature-positive initiatives in Africa.
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Dorothy Maseke
Lead, Nature Finance & TNFD, FSD Africa
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Rikesh Patel
Senior Advisor on Conservation Finance, Conservation International
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Emem Umoh
Founder and Director, Women in Conservation (WINCO)
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Kiptoo Chemoiwo
Project Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF
Many issues related to land, biodiversity, and climate are inherently complex. They require creative and collective thinking, along with sensing processes, where meaningful participation is crucial for achieving productive and holistic outcomes. However, it can be challenging to navigate these group processes, often resulting in “business as usual” decision making or frustration within the group.
In this interactive session, we will begin with a brief introduction to the conceptual framework of “The Diamond of Participation” by Sam Kaner et al., as outlined in The Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision Making. Following this, we will engage in an embodied exploration of how this model applies to our professional work contexts. This session aims to foster a deeper understanding and acceptance of the complex human dynamics often at play in group work. We hope you will leave feeling inspired and equipped with practical strategies to handle these dynamics more productively.
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Yeliz Mert
Strategic Facilitator and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist , GLF
Women contribute significantly to sustainable agricultural production and land-based livelihoods, thus promoting food security and biodiversity conservation. Despite this, they are particularly exposed to the adverse impacts of climate change due to their disproportionate reliance on land-based resources.
They bear the brunt of the crisis through climate-induced droughts, torrential rains, floods and other extreme weather patterns. Land that was once considered productive is becoming barren and wasted due to these negative impacts of climate change, making it harder to provide for families and leading to internal conflicts and migration.
This situation is exacerbated by social and gender inequalities in the control and ownership of land, with women living in poverty unable to monitor and enforce their rights. Secure land rights play a crucial role in promoting effective mitigation, adaptation and land restoration efforts to address the effects of climate change. Rural and Indigenous women are also key agents for effectively achieving these three objectives. It is imperative to ensure that women have fundamental resources and are included in climate action to build a sustainable and equitable future for all.
By securing land tenure rights for women, we can build resilience to the impacts of climate change and devise effective land use and control systems, thus enabling us to live in harmony with the planet.
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Nakibuuka Maxensia
Executive Director, Lungujja Community Health Organization (LUCOHECO)
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Deborah Oyugi
English Countries Manager and Safeguarding Lead, Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (Yilaa)
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Mary Maneno
Advocacy & Campaigns Manager, International Land Coalition
Join local practitioners from the GLFx chapter network and Restoration Stewards program in learning easy techniques and methods for restoration.
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Robert Meya
Project Lead, Ondiri Wetland Botanic Garden
As the world turns its attention to the upcoming global climate, biodiversity and land summits, we look at the landscapes and livelihoods of local communities in Africa, that hold the keys to securing a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future for the continent and beyond.
This plenary will reflect on what is needed for Africa to leverage local knowledge and action on the ground to advance global climate, biodiversity, and land ambitions while securing the rights and livelihoods of its communities. It will centre community stewardship at the heart of regional and global agendas, and discuss the strategies and resources needed to harness the power of local solutions, bridging the gap between local realities and global processes to forge a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa.
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Semerian Sankori
Maasai woman & founder, Patinaai Osim
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Emem Umoh
Founder and Director, Women in Conservation (WINCO)
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Carine Akure
Programs Director, Dufatanye Organization & GLFx Nyanza
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Maseke Mirriam Rioba
Programmes Officer for East Africa, Futurelect
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Rose Mwebaza
Director and Regional Representative, UNEP Africa Office
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Betty Kibaara
Director in the Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Regional Office
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Susan Chomba
Director of Vital Landscapes, World Resources Institute (WRI)
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Njeri Maina
Director of Business & Partnerships, DEN
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Éliane Ubalijoro
Chief Executive Officer, CIFOR-ICRAF
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Anna Obi Akpe RS
Biodiversity Conservator & Volunteer, Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC), Nigeria.
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Ariane Hildebrandt
Director General, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
Join us for the Closing Reception of the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference. Network with colleagues from a variety of organizations and backgrounds, enjoy refreshments and celebrate the day with music and dancing.
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Nabalayo Wattimah
Music-maker and Illustrator
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Stom Wabuko
Spoken Word Artist
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NDIBØ
Eclectic Artist
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Ndung’u Mbithi
Singer/songwriter & Multi-instrumentalist